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Sovereignty of God

This study presents the reasons why NVBC accepts both God's Sovereignty and Free Will, while also addressing objections to Calvinism/Reformed Theology/Sovereign Grace. It is based on research from various books and aims to provide a natural and comprehensive interpretation of God's Word.

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Sovereignty of God

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  1. Sovereignty of God

  2. Ground Work 1. First – apology to new and young Christians: • For causing confusion to you • Such confusing argument and confusing terminologies.. • However, we feel the need to address this because some have just heard about it and they are asking for some enlightenment.

  3. Ground Work 2. This is a minor doctrine • Let us not allow it to divide us • Otherwise • we will not please God • God wants unity for His children • we will not encourage one another • the world will not listen to us

  4. Ground Work 2. This is a minor doctrine • The major doctrines are: • Salvation by grace through faith in Christ • Trinity, Deity of Christ • Authority of the God’s Word • Blessed Hope of Christ’s Return

  5. Ground Work 3. This issue is centuries old • We cannot expect to resolve it now in NVBC • Best Bible teachers in the world are still in disagreement until today • The good thing about it, they respect each other

  6. List of Some Proponents • Balance of Sovereignty & Free Will • John/Charles Wesley • James MacDonald • Charles Stanley • Dave Hunt • Adrian Rogers • David Jeremiah • Ravi Zaccharias • A W Tozer • Billy Graham • William MacDonald • Vernon McGee • James Dobson • Norman Geisler • Hank Hanegraaff Calvinists James White RC Sproul John Piper Martin Luther John MacArthur Martin Lloyd Jones John Gill Arthur Pink John Bunyan Warren Wiersbe Jonathan Edwards George Whitfield Charles Spurgeon Matthew Henry

  7. 3 Options on the Subject of Sovereignty 1.Focus on Free Will (Arminianism) Main proponent: Jacobus Arminius • Focus on God’s Sovereignty (Calvinism, Sovereign Grace) Main proponent: John Calvin, Augustine 3.Focus on both God’s Sovereignty and Free Will No proponent: Direct from Bible

  8. Focus on Free Will (Arminianism) • Acknowledges God’s sovereignty but the final say on man’s destiny belongs to man. • God gets some credit but most of the credit goes to the man. • We will not talk much about this as most of us are clear that this is not Biblical.

  9. Salvation is all of God. • God chose and predestined some who will be saved without any criteria other than His sovereign will and pleasure. • Man has no role, not even his faith is a factor in God’s choice or election. • Much emphasis on election and predestination. • All those elected are regenerated then gifted by God with faith to be saved. Focus on God’s Sovereignty (Calvinism, Sovereign Grace, Reformed)

  10. Focus on both God’s Sovereignty & Free Will • Accepts God’s sovereign plan of salvation where God elects people according to His foreknowledge. • God designed and completed the plan of salvation – to pay for the sins of the world through the death and resurrection of his Son. • God offers the gift of eternal life to all people. • He calls, commands, convicts, draws, enlightens all men – those who will respond in faith get saved.

  11. Ground Work 4. NVBC stand: we accept both God’s Sovereignty and Free Will as they are both in the Bible • We don’t require all members to take this stand, we respect members’ stand • We request members to also respect the stand of NVBC by refraining from speaking against it

  12. Ground Work 5. The goal of this study is to: a. Present the reasons why NVBC accepts both God’s Sovereignty and Free Will (Balanced View). b. In the process, we cannot help but also present the reasons why we do not agree with Calvinism / Reformed Theology / Sovereign Grace. c. If you are not convinced of NVBC’s stand after the presentation, we respect that.

  13. Ground Work 6. The ideas here are a result of research from various books from both sides of the issue • In case there is something here that you think is not accurate, I would appreciate if you bring it up to my attention.

  14. Why NVBC believes both God’s Sovereignty and Free Will? • Because both are taught in the Bible • We cannot accept some of God’s Word and reject others • This option makes the most sense • This is the most natural way to interpret and understand God’s Word • This is in line with “biblical interpretation” principle 3. This option has the least problems and complications and with least questions that have no answers

  15. Passages on God’s Sovereignty Eph 1:5-11 Romans 9:15-21 John 1:13 John 6:44 Acts 13:48 Passages on Free Will Eph 1:13 Romans 10:13 John 1:12 John 3:16 John 12:32 Acts 16:31 • Both God’s Sovereignty and Free Will are taught in the Bible

  16. Sample Passages on God’s Sovereignty Eph 1:5,9 5 Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself

  17. Sample Passages on God’s Sovereignty Romans 9 13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” 15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. 19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

  18. Sample Passages on God’s Sovereignty John 1:13 ..who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

  19. Sample Passages on God’s Sovereignty John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

  20. Sample Passages on God’s Sovereignty Acts 13:48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

  21. Sample Passages on Human Choice and Free Will Eph 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

  22. Sample Passages on Human Choice and Free Will Romans 10:13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

  23. Sample Passages on Human Choice and Free Will John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

  24. Sample Passages on Human Choice and Free Will John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

  25. Sample Passages on Human Choice and Free Will John 12:32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

  26. Sample Passages on Human Choice and Free Will Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved…

  27. Fundamental Issue Both sides aim to explain these seemingly contradicting passages. However, each side has a totally different approach. Now: All of us have free will to choose which approach to take.

  28. Calvinist’s way to explain the seemingly contradicting passages • Proposes that the verses in the Bible about man’s ‘choice or free will’ do not really speak of human choice and free will, especially on the matter of his salvation. • Men have no real choice or free will. • Whenever men seemingly make a choice or seemingly exercises his will, it is God controlling them – through His sovereign power. • Bottom line: God is Sovereign and He is in control of everything and everyone. • God’s Sovereignty and free will are not compatible.

  29. Balanced View’s way to explain the seemingly contradicting • Proposes that all verses in the Bible about man’s choice or free will are real. • God gave men freedom to choose and exercise free will. • In God’s sovereignty, He designed the plan and set up the rules, including the rule for salvation • His sovereign plan for salvation is: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” – there is no other way. • Key to all of this is “election according to God’s foreknowledge” (1 Pet 1:2 and Rom 8:29) • God’s sovereignty and free will are compatible.

  30. Where the Difference Lies? Three Primary Issues: • Definition of Sovereignty • Definition of Foreknowledge • Definition of Faith All 3 issues are inter-connected.

  31. Where the Difference Lies? • Definition of Sovereignty Calvinism: God is in Sovereign control of everything and everyone, including human will. In addition, if God desires or plans something, it will absolutely happen. If it does not happen according to his plan, His sovereignty is impaired. This is particularly true with God’s plan of salvation. According to them, Christ died only for the elect. They say this because they know that not all people will be saved. And if Christ died for all – and not all will be saved, then Christ’s blood is weak or inefficient. • Balanced View: God is in Sovereign control of everything and everyone but God sovereignly designed a plan but He gave people a choice.

  32. Where the Difference Lies? • Definition of Sovereignty Our Reply: God’s sovereignty is not impaired if God’s plan or will is rejected by man. God did not desire Adam and Eve to fall into sin. But they fell into sin – yet God’s sovereignty was not harmed or reduced. There are many passages that tell us that Christ died for all men and we cannot ignore them: • John 3:16, 1 John 2:2, John 1:29, 2 Cor 5:15 • Christ even died for false teachers – 2 Pet 2:1 The blood of Christ is not wasted even if people reject it.

  33. Where the Difference Lies? 2. Definition of Foreknowledge 1 Pet 1:2 says “elect according to the foreknowledge of God..” (Read also Romans 8:29) Calvinism: Says “foreknowledge” does not mean that God elected based on what He saw in advance. They interpret foreknowledge as “predetermined” or “foreordained”. They say “God did not see anything good in us that made him choose us, not even our faith.” His election is based purely on God’s pleasure and will. (Eph 1:5)

  34. Where the Difference Lies? 2. Definition of Foreknowledge Our Reply: ‘Foreknowledge’ means ‘foreknowledge, that is ‘knowing something in advance.’ The irony of it is – if you ask the Calvinists “do you believe in God’s omniscience, do you believe that God can see things before they happen?”. Their reply is “yes.” And this is true – God can see everything (Isa 46:10). However, because they have incorrectly defined “sovereignty”, they have to painstakingly ignore God’s ability to see things in advance.

  35. Where the Difference Lies? 3. Definition of Faith Calvinism: Defines faith as “good work.” Our Reply: This is a major mistake which leads to other mistakes. Faith is not good work. Gal 2:16 contrasts faith and work. “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” Read also Eph 2:8, 9 – we are saved by grace through faith…not of works.

  36. Why NVBC believes both God’s Sovereignty and Free Will? • Because both are taught in the Bible • This option makes the most sense • This option has the least problems and complications, least questions and all questions have clear answers from the Bible.

  37. Why NVBC believes both God’s Sovereignty and Free Will? • Because both are taught in the Bible • We have already seen some of the passages for both God’s Sovereignty and Free Will

  38. Why NVBC believes both God’s Sovereignty and Free Will? 2. This option makes the most sense • God loves the world, He desires all men to be saved, He sacrificed His Son to die for the sins of the world, now He is offering the gift of eternal life to everyone. (1 Tim 2:4, 2 Pet 3:9) • Anyone who responds in faith to the invitation shall be saved. (John 3:16, Ro 10:13) • If anyone rejects the offer, he is condemned. (John 3:18) • God, through His omniscience, saw all of these things before they happened. (1 Pet 1:2, Ro 8:29)

  39. Why NVBC believes both God’s Sovereignty and Free Will? • This option has the least problems and complications, least questions and all questions have clear answers from the Bible. • Some questions againstthe Balanced View a. If God’s decision to save a person is partly dependent on man’s choice and will, then our salvation is not secure. Our reply: We believe in eternal security. Free will does not affect our eternal security. Though we are not always faithful, God remains faithful (2 Tim 2:13). Also, our salvation is in God’s hands, not ours (John 10:28-29).

  40. Why NVBC believes both God’s Sovereignty and Free Will? Some questions against the Balanced View • If our salvation is based on man’s faith, then man gets credit. Our reply: God is the one who set the rule: “those who believe shall be saved.” So, if we believe and are saved, God gets the credit, not us. (Illustration: 100 men on death row.)

  41. Why NVBC believes both God’s Sovereignty and Free Will? Illustration • Assuming 100 men are on death row. All 100 were proven guilty beyond any doubt. The Governor declared that all who will acknowledge their sin and come to him will be pardoned. Five men came and were pardoned. • Do we say “how great are those 5 men”, or do we say “what a great and merciful Governor!”

  42. Why NVBC believes both God’s Sovereignty and Free Will? Some questions against the Balanced View • Election has nothing to do with exercise of our faith because God elected us before the foundation of the world. Our reply: Faith cannot be ignored by God because it was him who declared “without faith, it is impossible to please God.” (Heb 11:6). God have seen this faith through His foreknowledge.

  43. Why NVBC believes both God’s Sovereignty and Free Will? Some questions against the Balanced View • Man is dead in sin (Eph 2:1), therefore he cannot do anything of himself, not even to exercise faith. Our reply: True, man is dead spiritually but not physically. Though spiritually dead, God did not remove man’s capacity to exercise faith. Otherwise, he would not have commanded us to believe (1 John 3:23 and many other passages).

  44. Why NVBC believes both God’s Sovereignty and Free Will? Some questions against the Balanced View e. “You did not choose me, I chose you” (John 15:16). Our reply: This simply means that God took the initiative or the first step (1 John 4:19 We love him because he first loved us.) But God clearly gave us a choice to receive or reject his Son (John 3:16,18). He took the first step by sending His Son into the world and presented the Good News to us.

  45. Why NVBC believes both God’s Sovereignty and Free Will? Some questions against the Balanced View. f. “Many are called but few are chosen.” (Matt 22:14). Our reply: True, but God chooses those who believe in Him. God will not choose those who will not believe in him (John 3:16-18).

  46. Why NVBC believes both God’s Sovereignty and Free Will? Some questions against the Balanced View g. God’s basis for election is his pleasure, will and grace (Eph 1:5). Our reply: True, but God’s pleasure is based on faith (Heb 11:6 without faith it is impossible to please God); God’s will is that everyone who believes shall be saved (John 6:40) and “we are saved by grace through faith” (Eph 2:8). Hence, we cannot separate election from faith.

  47. Why NVBC believes both God’s Sovereignty and Free Will? Some questions against the Balanced View. h. God controlled the heart and will of Pharaoh by hardening his heart (Exp 4:21, 7:13). Our reply: Before God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, Pharaoh had already hardened his heart as you can find earlier in Exo 1 – wherein he tortured the Hebrews and killed countless babies.

  48. Why NVBC believes both God’s Sovereignty and Free Will? Some questions against the Balanced View. i. Faith is God’s gift to man. (Eph 2:8, Heb 12:2) Our Reply: • Romans 6:23 The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ (not faith). • If God gives faith to the elect, how come Christ was amazed at the faith of the Centurion (Matt 8:10)? Unless He was just pretending to be surprised. • How come Christ was amazed at the unbelief of some people (Mark 6:6)? Why would he be surprised if He did not give them faith?

  49. Why NVBC believes both God’s Sovereignty and Free Will? Some questions against the Balanced View. j. John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. Our Reply: • John 12:32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw allpeoples to Myself.

  50. Why NVBC believes both God’s Sovereignty and Free Will? Some questions against the Balanced View. k. God actually chose many people to go to hell, that is what He created hell for. Our Reply: • Matt 25:41God did not create hell for people but for the devil and his fallen angels. If any man goes to hell, it is his choice and it is because of his sins – and absolutely not because God ordained him to go there.

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